I want an Elite-type game, dammit!

[Summo]

I ache for an Elite-type game. I remember playing this for months back on my Acorn Electron, surrounded by paper with scribbled lists of planets, cargo values, etc. I remember feeling as though I really was drifting from system to system...

Anyway. I want a similar game. Freelancer looks as though it'll be the best thing for some time but it doesn't look like it'll be released anytime soon (though MS still claim this year) so I wondered if any of you lot play or could recommend a similar game. Large, open-ended space trading/missions/combat with a real sense of immersion.

I downloaded Dark Space (technically a MMOG) and farted about with it for about 10 mins, but it doesn't seem to have a first person 'in-cockpit' view and frankly that just will not do. Plus the fact that it relies on external servers, other people playing, etc.

Also, Elite II: Frontier and the other one are available as shareware downloads but the graphics are so shite that I couldn't bear to play them now.

So... any suggestions?

 

[djpringle]

So do I...

Still play Frontier occaisionally tho, yup the graphics are shite but you start the game with an autopilot and that is always a plus point in my book

 

[xane]

I've been tracking an MMOG called EVE, which is similar to Dark Space and Jumpgate but more aligned to the traditional Elite "trader" role. Unfortunately it was due to start beta before the end of last year and seems to be badly delayed.

The reason I like the design is the "responsibility" rules on PK, you can become a Pirate but you run the risk of being hunted by both AI police and player controlled Bounty Hunters, so it expands the Elite universe and allows you to take on all roles.

Keep us posted SomeGuy, I am very interested in another Elite game, I tried playing my original Elite on my 1.2Ghz PC and it run a tad too fast

I downloaded the Elite clone "Space Trader" for my Palm a couple of weeks back and it has reignited my interest in this style of game. I never tried Frontier, I might give it a go from that download site.

 

[Testin da Cable]

OH YEAH!!

I was an uber elite fanbwoi!!! I lived for that game heh.
Sometimes I still play Privateer II: the darkening....not for the game, but for the spaceflight, trading and fighting

 

[bigbb]

gawd, I loved Elite, abolutely stonking game. Always got into fights when I was heading into mining systems though.

Never has a game captured my imagination so much. When you got the space station in your pixelated sights you felt overjoyed. Then buying new bits and pieces for your ship, even buying a brand spanking new one if you had saved enough dosh.

Looking on the map and saying, "hmm, yes i'm going to go there today".

Oh memories, memories.

 

[Ukle]

Jumpgate...

Only one approaching anything like Elite that has been built in last few years is Jumpgate. Very nice and indepth game only problem it has its increadably boring until level 10 supposedly. I gave up at level 8 in BETA after i got sick and tired of all the sitting aroudn doing nothing.

The problem is remeber in elite between jump gates you could speed up time, well you cant do that in a MMOG so travel is all real time... means that just getting from one jump gate to the next is a 3 min journey with the first ship you get. Nice game though with the time it takes being its only major flaw...

But the time it takes is the way MMOG's work namely longer they can keep you playing the more money they make.

 

[Testin da Cable]

ooh but I don't want it to be 'real' [like Frontier tried to be realistic] I don't want true to life physics heh
moderate relativity only

 

[Wij]

No, I liked the realism in Frontier. I just hated the bugs. Especially the one where the autopilot smacks you into a planet at 2,000,000 mph. Oh, and the one where your lasers disappear and can't be replaced because your inventory still thinks something is fitted

 

[Testin da Cable]

lol yeah, I remember that planet thumping thing

 

[SoWat]

Elite was a terrific game. I probably still have my wallchart somewhere in the attic (I used it to keep track of where I'd been, going, got, getting, etc!).

There doesn't seem to be a game like it, certainly not with the sheer depth and seemingly unending gameplay.

I guess the nearest thing would be one of them there Massive Multiplayer thingies.

 

[old.plightstar]

Hey I got a copy of a new version of Elite, but it is still the same really, I cant tell the difference. I got it on a PC utlity CD, I think its less than 1mb, so I could send it to you through an e-mail, E-mail me at plightstar@hotmail.com, and i'll send it to you.

 

[Sar]

Earth & Beyond.

I'm beta testing it (should get the Beta CD for the latest phase later this week), and it's looking to be a corking update on the Elite theme.

Basically you can Fight, Trade or Explore as much or as little as you want. I personally love exploring, heading out to the rim and finding new and cool shit. Seeing the birth of new stars, discovering black holes etc.

It's a MMORPG crossed with Elite. So imagine Elite being played worldwide by thousands of players simultaneously.



Looked at Eve as well, but for various reasons prefer E&B.

 

[Sar]

Originally posted by plightstar
Hey I got a copy of a new version of Elite, but it is still the same really, I cant tell the difference. I got it on a PC utlity CD, I think its less than 1mb, so I could send it to you through an e-mail, E-mail me at plightstar@hotmail.com, and i'll send it to you.

If you want to mail it to me I can stick it up on me webspace for ppl to d/l.

sar@the-yarn.net

 

[Wij]

I don't wanna have to dig out a joystick

 

[Sar]

Thought you'd be used to playing with your joystick.

 

[Wij]

Boh !

 

[Sar]

Selecta!

*cough*

 

[WPKenny]

You can download pretty much any version of Elite for free and legally. David Braben has his own website up where he hosts them. Just look on google or something.

The best version for the PC is Elite Plus. Basically the same as ELite but it's got VGA graphics and a few more missions.

 

[xane]

Sar, thanks for the heads up on E&B, I may sign up for that too, have you already been playing it and I'd like to know how they handle the PvP side, the FAQ doesn't give away much.

 

[Sar]

PvP will only consitute about 20% of the game universe. When you die you don't lose any items, you get an experience penalty, and your ship is repaired to a basic level of functionality, and any further repairs you have to pay for out of your own pocket. You're also returned to your starting point in the game universe, so if you'd travelled quite a distance you have to make that distance up again.

That's why I'm looking forward to it, because I prefer to play the game without the threat of losing items I've worked for to some lucky punk.

I can seriously see me getting rather heavily involved in this game

 

[xane]

So what is the reason for being a PK, other than being an annoying little punk that is ?

 

[Sar]

Not a lot atm, cos the game is still in alpha. It's in the stress testing phase atm, and will go into beta over the next couple of months.

There's still a lot of stuff to be finalised/implemented atm, so some things will change before it's released.

 

[Summo]

A great response from you uber-lovely peeps. Thank you. I thought there'd be other Elite obsessives in here.

Every now and then I read somewhere about a new game which claims to be 'the game Elite fans have been waiting for!!!!1!!' yet we still seem to be waiting. Elite IV is years away (if it ever comes at all) and I can't help feeling that they're a little out-of-touch now. I could be wrong.

I'll have a look at Jumpgate (if I can find the official site) and have signed up for EVE and Earth & Beyond beta tests so I'll see what happens. At least I have a couple to keep my eye on now.

Lovely. Thanks, all.

 

[Sir Frizz]

"HARDWAR"

wasnt that similar to elite???

 

[Sar]

Bought it, never installed it though.

It was restricted to the surface of 1 planet though IIRC, and you could only trade IIRC as well...

Graphically it was turd though